Coupler



F. H.\ KAYLEF: 2,393,912 I Jan. 29, 1946.

COUPLER Filed Sept. 18, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l I/VVENTOR. M

' Jan. 29, 1946.

' Filed Sept. 18, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l 0 l/ I v g INVENTOR.

F. H. KAYLER 2,393,912

Y COUPLER Jain. 29, 1946. 1 I H. KAYLER Q i 2,393,912 I COUPLER Filed Sept. 18, 1943 Sheets-Sheet 3 A, INVENTOR. @01 2 Patented-Ian. 39,1946 2,393,912

UNI-TED STATES] PATENT opt cs COUPLER Application September is, 1943, Serial No. 502,872

I 26 Claims. (Cl. 213-148) My invention relates to a railway car coupler movement of'the rotor will release the anticreep,

and more particularly to an improved form of and if this occurs at the same instant as happens" rotor operating mechanism and anticreep, such a vertical movement as above-mdicated The general object of my invention is to clewhen there is no tension on the knuckle, the: vise a rotary mechanism having a more positive look may be thrown upward at the instant the anticreep than any heretofore applied. anticreep is free; In such a case, if the upward Another object of my invention is to devise a thrust is sufflciently severe, the lock may be raised a rotary mechanism and anticreep which will entirely above the knuckle, 'thus unlocking it and be interchangeable with the present Standard'E causing atrain pa t mechanism as now used throughout the United y n l de ice is designed to P e nloc States. f ingl of the lock under such conditions as those In the present Standard E coupler the rotary described d sts. enerally spea n f t mechanism utilizes a so-called toggle which is provision of the substitution of a two-piece rotor, connected to the'bottom leg of the lock, a rotor hinged with respect to each other, whi hds ihtehwhich at one end i co t t t toggle and lo changeable with'the present one-piece rotor and at the other end is mount for rotary oti certain other details of modification as may be on a lug at the rear end of the coupler, said rotor V hereinafter-described. v having an opening therethrough intermediate its In the drawings, ends for connection to the eye end of an asso- Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view in a ciated Operating rod. Under certaln operating longitudinal Plane through the rear portion of conditions, it has been found that the anticreep a Standard E coupler, the section being taken in arrangement of the present standard type E coua plane substantially bisecting the trunnion bar v pier is not altogether positive to'prevent accion the coupler head which r s p r f dental unlocking of the coupler andunder such e rotor and-wherein y novel form 01 1 conditions, train partings have resulted. It is 26 nd anticreep arrangem nt is illustrated with fairly well understood that the unusual combinae the parts thereof shown in elevation and in nortion ofcondition's which occasionally causes such mal locked p i accidents results when vertical bouncing or the Figure 213 a view comparable to Figure 1. illu cars is" combined with a run-together or run-in trating the position of the Pa s when the end of slack, which may be occasioned, for example, 30 of the operating rod is thrown forward. by an abrupt stop or sudden reduction of speed. Figure 3 is a further view comparableto Fig- Quick vertical movement 01' the coupler may .ures 1 and 2, illustrating the character oi. the

be caused not only by bouncing of, the cars but auxiliary anticreep afforded by my novel mechby a sharp bufllng action which'may occur duranism under certain operating conditions.

ing the run-in of slack, andthis is particularly Figure 4 illustrates the positionot the parts the case with respect to coupler heads which, bewhen the operating rod is rotated to release the cause of various conditions of wear, may have anticreep in anormal unlocking operation.

dropped somewhat below the normal position. Figure 5 is a top plan view of the rotor lever The sudden bufling action may bring the couassembly, and Figure 6 is a rear view thereof or Dlers up to normal level with'a sharp movement 40 a view taken from the right as seen in Figure 5. which may be suddenly stopped a pressure is I In the view of Figure 1, my novel arrangement brought to bear between the bufling faces of matis shown as applied to a Standard E coupler with lag couplers. At such'an instant the lock may the parts in normal locked position. As there ilcontinue its upward movement, it not prevented lustrated, a fragmentary portion is shown of the by an effective anticreep. 4 coupler head 2 including the bottom portion oi! In the rotary operating arrangement of the the lock cavity 4 in which may be seen the botpresent StandardE coupler, the inner end of the tom leg of the lock and at the rear of, the operating rod being supported as above-mencoupler head may be noted the lug 8, aflordinz tioned in aney of the rotor at a level substansupport for the trunnion II on .which may be tially below the suppo'rt of the lever itself. any carried the hook end- [2 coupler engaging operating condition tending to cause theinner or rear portion. generally designated ll, of my.

end of the rod to move forward, such as monovel two-piece form of rotor. rear mentum of the rod during a run-in of slack. a portion Il may be pivotally connected or hinged rotary motion of the rotor lever will be caused as at "by the rivet It to the forward portion by such forward movement or the rod. Rotary so of said, rotor, said forward portion being zenerally designated 20 and including an intermedi- 1 ate "openingfor eye 22 (Figures-) in which may be received the looped end'24 of thestandard operating rod. The forward end of the rotorto the link or toggle 28, said toggle having the*' form at present standard in the type E coupler. The upper end of said toggle may have a horizontal trunnion portion 30 received in the slot 32, formed for that purpose at the lower end of the lock leg 8. With the parts as thus illustrated in normal locked position, the anticreep ledge or lug 34, adjacent the upper end of the wall 55, rotation of the operating rod 24 is limited, piece 20 may have pivotal connection as at 2-8 5 toggle 28, underlies the anticreep lug 3-6 on the forward wall of the lock cavity 4.

The rear member l4 of my articulated rotor incorporates the middle hub 38 of the hinge connection to the associated member, said hub 38 fitting between the spaced walls 40, 42 (Figure 6) formed at the rear extremity of the associated member 20 and Joined by the tie bar 43 extending therebetween. With the parts in normal posithe operating rod handle is prevented. Thisgesuits from the fact thamviiiem the-iaiisauaryiafincreep 52 strikes the bottom face of the coupler by the fact that the eye end thereof seats atone side as at 62 (Figure 2) in the eye 22 and seats at the opposite side thereof as at 64, the amountv of such movement to and fro being indicated by the angle included at 66.

By my novel arrangement, the combination of an auxiliary anticreep with the regular standard anticreep.actsv positively to prevent accidental unlocking under the. various possible combinations or sequences of vertical and horizontal arrangement the weight of the operating rod, which is supported in the rotor below its trunnion connection to the coupler head, is advantageous in that movement of the operating rod is efiective to bring the articulated rotor lever anticreep may become effective; whereas, under adjacent fiat wall 48 on the forward si e of the member I 4, said space indicating that the parts normally hang in what may be described as a slightly opened position of the hinged connection.

Referring now to. Figure 2, there is illustrated the condition which exists when the eye end of the operating rod and the rotor mechanism is thrown forward as a result of such a combination of forces as heretofore referred to. When the device is thus thrown in a forward directiomthe end of the operating rod 24 is somewhat elevated owing to the swinging action of the rotor and toggle, the normal position of the rod 24 in relation to said elevated position being illustrated in phantom lines at 50. With my novel arrangement when the parts have swung forward as illustrated in Figure 2, the auxiliary anticreep lug 52 abuts as at 54 the under side of the coupler wall 55, preventing further upward movement of the present standard conditions, such movement of the operating rod is objectionable because it acts to turn the rotor about its pivotal connection tive positions illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4 shOWS the position taken by the parts during manual operation of unlocking the coupler by means of the operating rod. Such rotation of the rod brings the eye thereof into engagetoggle 28 and the associated lock leg 6. Asillustrated in Figure 2, the lock is shown raised the maximum possible amount for this position of the parts. It will be understood, of course, that under varying operating conditions, the swing of the in the front wall of the lock cavity. In both of these figures the lock is illustrated at its maximum elevation under the conditions shown and its relative position is indicated by the-normal locked position shown in phantom lines at 8|. It will be seen, therefore, that in casethe-parts, for example, assume the position illustrated in Figure 2 and then move re'arwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 3, or even. further, the normal anticreep lugs 34, 38 will be in operative position. I

By my novel arrangement. excessive swing Q ment with the part 20 as at 62 and 58 so that the two parts of the articulated rotor are closed-with respect to each other, the lug 46 abutting the Q wall 48 as at 10, and further engagement between the articulated members being afforded as at 12 at the opposite side of the pivot point It where the before-mentionedtie bar 43 may afford an abutment for the extremity 45 of the .hub 38.

Under these conditions, the two articulated portions 54 and 20 are rigid with respect to each other and operate the same as the present standard one-piece rotor, and the length of my novel articulated lever when so closed is the same from pivot point i6to pivot point 26 as the present standard one-piece rotor.

Thus, normal manual'ac'tuation of the operating rod 24 moves the articulated portions of my novel rotor into closed engagement with each other so that the two operate substantially identically for that purpose, as does the present Standard E rotor. When so actuated, the auxiliary anticreep lug 52 will swing around with plenty of' clearance, from the adjacent bottom edge 14 of the wall 56 and move upwardly into .the' lock cavity as the lock itself is elevated by engagement as at 15 of the link trunnion 30 at the top of the slot 32 in theleg of the lock. Un-

, der these conditions, of course, the normal anticreep 34, 36 is free of engagement, as also is the auxiliary anticreep afforded at 52.

. The rotary force manually applied to'the operating rod keeps the articulated rotor in closed position as the lock is unlocked and the knuckle thrown. When this force is released the weight of the rod and associated parts keepsjthe articulated rotor in the closed position until the parts swing back to the normal position illustrated in Figure 1 when the articulated connection may open slightly as there illustrated.

' Itwill thus be" seen that my novel arrange ment or an articulated two-piece rotor as herein asosma described is elective when associated with present Standard E coupler parts to provide an auxiliary anticreep and to increase the effectiveness of the anticreep means at .present utilized therein.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the deto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit oi the invention or the scope of the claims, a

I claim:

1. A coupler having a lock and an adjacent support,'operating-means for said lock having one end hung from said support and the other end fromsaid lock, said operating means comprising a toggle connected to said look, a twopiece articulated rotor Divotally connected at respective ends to said toggle and said support, the respective pieces of said rotor having engageable stop means at opposite sides of their pivotal connection, said stop means limiting the relative rotation of said pieces in a direction to unlock said lock, operating means connected to one of' said pieces, and anticreep means on one of said pieces operative to engage said coupler and prevent unlocking of said look when said and thus to bring an anticreep on'one or said pieces'into position to engage a portion of the associated coupler.

4.. In a coupler structure, a coupler head having front and rear walls defining in part a lock cavity, a trunnion'on said rear wall, a lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock, an articulated rotor hung from said trunnion and piv-- otally connected to said link,said link and rotor being capable of swinging movement from the respective points of support on said lock and I said trumiion wherein relative movement occurs between the articulated portions of said rotor, whereby means on one of said portions underlies said front wall to aiford an anticreep, and an operating rod connected to one of said por- Hons-movement of said operating'rod in a direcpieces are relatively rotated in the opposite dition to unlock said coupler causing limited relative movement between said articulated portions to a position where they become fixed with respect to each other and operate, as a single member during such further movement.

5. In a coupler arrangement, a coupler head having forward and rear walls defining in part a lock cavity, a trunnion on said rear wall, a lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock, opposed anticreep lugs on said forward wall and 'said -link, an articulated rotor'supported adjacent respective ends from said trunnion and said link, and operating means connected to said rotor, said rotor comprising forward and rear portions pivoted to each other at a point norand means on one of said pieces engageable with.

said operating means to restrict accidental swinging movement thereof upon engagement of said anticreep means with saidcoupler.

" 2. In a coupler structure, a coupler head having front and rear walls defining in part a lock cavity, a trunnion on said rear wall, a lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock, an articulated rotor hung from'said trunnion and pivotally connected to said link, said link and rotor being capable ofswinging movement from the respective points of support on said lock and said trunnion wherein relative movement occurs between the articulated portions of said rotor,

mally positioned substantially vertically beneath said trunnion when said coupler and the associated parts are at rest in normal locked position, and the pivotal connection'between said link and said rotor being substantially vertically below the point of support of said link on said look when means on one of said portions normally underlying said front wall to afford an anticreep, and an operating rod connected to one of said portions, movement of said operating rod in a direction to unlock said coupler causing limited relative movement between said articulated portions to a position where they become fixed with respect to each other and operate as a single member during such further movement, rotation of said portions to said relatively fixed 'position being eiiective to release said anticreep.

3.-A two-piece articulated rotor for a coupler operating means, means at opposite ends of said rotor having pivotal connection to, associated support means, an opening in one of said pieces ior' connection to an associated operating rod,

and stop means on said pieces at opposite sides I of their articulated connection limiting relative said parts are so positioned.

6. A coupler having a lock and an adjacent support, operating means for said lock having.

one end hung from said support and the other end from said lock, said operating means comprising a toggle connected to said look, a twopiece articulated rotor pivotally connected at respective ends to said toggle and said support, the respective pieces of said rotor having engageable stop means at opposite sides of their pivotal connection, said stop means limiting the relative v rotation of said pieces in a direction to unlock said lock, operating means connected to one of said pieces, and anticreep means on one of said pieces operative to engage said coupler and prevent unlocking of said lock when said pieces are relatively rotated in the opposite direction.

7. A coupler having a lock, a. link hung from said lock and a two-piece articulated rotor pivotally connected to said link and to support means on said coupler, and an operating rod connected to one of said pieces, accidental swinging movement of said rotor being effective to cause articulation between said pieces and increase the distance between the pivot points at its opposite ends, thus-bringing an anticreep member on one of said pieces in a position to underlie a'portion of said coupler, and manual operation of said rod being effective to cause relative rotation of said pieces in the reverse direction to engage opposed stop means thereon and reduce said distance, thus .freeing said anticreep for unlocking said look. i

for connection to an associated operating rod, and stop means on said pieces at opposite sides 'of their'articulated connection limiting relative rotation therebetween in an unlocking direction, furtherrotation thereof in said direction'causing said pieces to operate as a rigid one-piece structure wherein the distance between the pivotal points of support thereof is equal to the distance between the pivotal points of suppoitof the present Standard E coupler rotor. v

9. In a coupler arrangement, a coupler head having forward and rear walls defining in part a lock cavity, a trunnion on said rear wall, a lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock, opposed anticreep lugs on said forward wall and said link, an articulated rotor supported adjacent respective ends from said trunnion and said link, and operating means connected to said rotor, said rotor comprisin forward and rear portions pivoted to each other at a point normally positioned substantially vertically beneath said trunnion when said coupler and the associated said cavity, a link hung from said lock, and an' articulated rotor hung from said trunnion and pivotally connected to said link, said link and rotor being capablepf swinging movement from the respective points of support on said lock and said trunnion wherein relative movement occurs between the articulated portions of said rotor,.

whereby means on one of said portions underlies I said front wall to afford an anticreep.

11. In a coupler structure, a coupler head having front and rear walls defining in part' a lock support, operating means for said 1001: having one end hung from said support and the other end from said lock, said operating means comprising a toggle connected to said lock, and a two-piece articulated rotor pivotaliy connected at respective ends to said toggle and said support, the respective pieces of said rotor having cavity, a trunnion on said rear wall, a lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock, an articulated rotor hung from said trunnion and pivotally connected to said link, said link and rotor being capable of swinging movement from the one end hung-from said support and the other end from said lock, said operating means comprising a toggle connected to said lock, a. twopiece articulated rotor pivotally connected at respective ends to said toggle and said support, the respective pieces of-said rotor-having engageable stop means at opposite sides of their pivotal connection, said stop means limiting the relative. rotation of said pieces in a direction to unlock said lock, and operating means connected to one of said pieces.

l3. In a railway car coupler, acoupler head having a lock cavity and an integral trunnion at the rear thereof, a lock supported in said cavity, a toggle link connected thereto at its upper end,

an articulated two-piece rotor pivotail onnect- .ed at its forward end' to said toggle and havings its opposite end supported on said trunnion,

and an opening in said rotor for connection of an associated operating rod, said articulated rotor comprising forward and rear portions hinged to each other. and capable of limited relative movement with respect to each other.

14. A coupler having a lock and an adjacent engageable stop means at opposite sides of their pivotal connection, said stop means limiting the relative rotation of said pieces in a direction to unlock said lock.

15. A two-piece articulated rotor for coupler operating means, means at opposite ends of said rotor having pivotal connection to associated support means, an opening in one of said pieces for connection to an associated operating rod, and

stop means on said pieces at opposite sides of means on said' coupler, and an operating rod connected to one of said pieces, accidental swinging movement of said rotor being effective to cause articulation between saidv pieces and increase the distance between the pivot points adjacent its opposite ends, thus bringing an anticreep member on one of said pieces in a position to underlie a-portion of said coupler. v

17. ha railway car coupler, a coupler head having a lock cavity and an integral trumiion at the rear thereof, a lock supported in said cavity, a toggle link connected at its upper end to said lock, an articulated two-piece rotor having its forward piece connected to said toggle link and having its opposite piece supported on said trunnion, and an opening in said forward piece for connection of an associated operating rodfl K 18. In a coupler arrangement, a coupler head having forward and rear wallsdefining in part a lock cavity, a trunnion on said rear wall, a lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock, opposed anticreep lugs on said forward wall and saidlink, an articulated multi-piece rotor supported adjacent respective ends from said trunsaid operating means being operable to urge said rotor to its open position wherein said anticreep means underlies a portion of said forward wall.

.19. In a coupler arrangement, a coupler head having forward and rear walls defining in part a lock cavity, a trunnion on said rear wall, a

lock in said cavity, a link hung from said lock,

opposed anticreep lugs on said forward wall and said link, an articulated multi-piece rotor supported adjacent respective ends from said trunnion and said link, the forward piece of said rotor having means for connection to associated operatin means.

zilfIn coupler operating means, a two-piece articulated rotor, each of said pieces having stop means at opposite sides of their pivot connection limiting their'relative rotation in one direction," an opening through the forward of said pieces for connection to an associated operating rod, saidforward piece having a'n anticreep lug forwardly of said opening and formed and arranged creep means on said rotor forwardly of said conforengagement with anticreep means of an associated coupler.

21. 'In coupler operating means, a multi-plece' articulated rotor, the respective pieces thereof having means limiting relative rotation therebetween in one direction, the forward of said pieces having connecting means for engagement with an associated operating element, and the rearward of said pieces having pivot means for connection to an associated coupler, and anticreep means on said forward piece adapted for engagement with anticreep means of said coupler.

22. In coupler operating means, a multipiece articulated rotor, the respective pieces thereof having means limiting relative rotation therebetween in one direction, an opening through the forward of said pieces for connection to an associated operating rod, and the rearward of said pieces having means for pivotal connection to an associated coupler, and anticreep means on said forward piece forwardly of said opening and adapted for engagement with anticree means nesting means adapted for engagement with anticreep means of an associated coupler, the

, rearward of said members having means for pivotal connection to said coupler.

25. A coupler having a look, a two-piece articulated rotor having a pivotal connection at one end, thereof to said coupler and an operative connection at the opposite end thereof to said lock, operating means connected to one of ative connection at the opposite end thereof to for engagement with anticreep means of an associated coupler.

bers for associated actuating means, and antisaid lock, operating means operatively connected to one of said pieces, means accommodating relative pivotal movement between the pieces of said rotor during accidental swinging movement thereof, whereby the distance between the ends of said'rotor is increased during said swinging movement, and anticreep means on one of said pieces for engaging anticreep means on said coupler during said swinging movement, 'whereby accidental upward movement of said rotor dur ing said swinging movement thereof is positively limitedu FRANK H. KAYLER. 

